One of the fears I always have with my newborn was the "what if the baby chokes". There is always a weird way baby breaths that makes this thought come to my mind, and I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels this way especially when you are bathing them, so many thoughts run through my head. There was a time in the first few days I was feeding her and she was still trying to know how to get a proper latch, before I know what was happening. She was choking, by staying calm I helped her through the condition by using this technique to relieve her-
The first thing you do if you see your baby gagging or choking, hold her in a way that her tummy is pressed against your forearm and turn her head sideways to let the mucous come out rather than collect at the back of her throat.
Hold your baby in a way that it is facing down on your forearm. Your forearm should be positioned on your thigh.
Then thump your baby firmly yet gently in the center of the back using the lower part of your hand. It helps to thrust out the blocking object.
The alternative method is to hold your infant in a way that it is facing up on your forearm with its head lower than the body. In this case, you might want to use two fingers placed at the middle of the infant’s breastbone and give five quick chest compressions. If breathing doesn’t resume, repeat the back chest thrusts or back blows.Make the baby face down and press her with your thumbs.If neither works, then seek an emergency medical help.You might want to try CPR or choking first aid to help the infant resume breathing.
How to prevent infant choking:
- Keep hazardous objects out of children’s reach.
- Make sure you are giving your child the right toys. Look for age restrictions and read the guidelines when you buy toys.
- Introduce solid foods to your baby at the right time. Letting your baby eat solid foods too early in her life might only harm her. Your baby must be at least four months old before it can start eating pureed solid foods.
- Don’t give your baby food chunks such as fruit, vegetable, cheese or meat chunks or fruits such as grapes. Also avoid hard foods such as nuts, popcorns, seeds and hard candies. You might also want to avoid allergic foods like peanuts. Chewing gums and marshmallows should also be out of reach of your child.
- Keep stuff such as latex balloons, marbles, tiny balls, cotton, batteries, dice, pen caps, etc. out of your baby’s reach.
- Always supervise your child.
Culled From Momjunction
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